Selectmen said they want to make sure Bennett gets the resources he needs to progress within the department.

While selectmen Michelle Gates and Brian Herr said the department would be better suited with internal hire, Chairman John Mosher, Vice-Chair Benjamin Palleiko and Selectman Todd Cestari liked the prospect of bringing in someone from the outside.

“There’s value to outside experience,”said Mosher.

Gates expressed disappointment in the board’s decision to not pick an internal candidate but voted in favor of Lee.

Lee joined the Woonsocket Police Department in 1988 as a patrolman. He rose through the ranks and became captain of detectives in 2008, his current position. As captain, he supervises 31 detectives, assigns cases and takes over for the chief in his absence. He is second in command of a department with 83 people.

He is currently working on a graduate degree in law enforcement from Roger Williams University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Selectmen were drawn to Lee because of experience working in a larger department as well as his training.

Herr said he was impressed by Lee’s approach to hiring using emotional intelligence.

Lee, the only finalist from outside Massachusetts, was the last to be interviewed on Thursday.

He said he was drawn to Hopkinton because of the town’s camaraderie.

“There’s a lot of teamwork here,” he said.

As chief, he would like to see a shift toward community policing, a style of law enforcement he says became less popular because of greater emphasis on homeland security.

Lee says his ability to understand people and use common sense in his police work makes him a good leader. He has been in law enforcement for 25 years.

Anamika Roy can be reached at 508-626-3957 or aroy@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @anamikaroy.